John Anderson

Head Coach

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John Anderson just completed his 12th season as Wolves head coach and led the team to the Midwest Division title and the Western Conference Semifinals. Anderson was re-hired to the position on July 16, 2013.

Anderson returned to the Wolves with four years of National Hockey League experience, which included two years as head coach of the Atlanta Thrashers from 2008-10. He also served as a Phoenix Coyotes assistant coach from 2011-13.

The 57-year-old Anderson guided the Wolves to four championships during his first tenure with the Wolves: the Calder Cup in 2002 and 2008 and the Turner Cup in 1998 and 2000. He is the team’s all-time leader in regular-season wins (551) and postseason victories (108). He earned his 700th regular-season win as a head coach when the Wolves earned a 4-3 shootout win on April 16 at Iowa.

Under his leadership, the Wolves have set several team records, including 55 wins (1997-98), 114 points (1999-2000), 29 home wins (1997-98, 1998-99), 27 road wins (1999-2000, 2006-07) and 331 goals (2006-07).

Prior to joining the Wolves, Anderson captured the Colonial Cup as head coach of the Quad City Mallards of the Colonial Hockey League. He began his coaching career with the Winston-Salem Mammoths in 1995-96, leading them to the Southern Hockey League Finals and a 30-23-1 regular-season record.

Toronto’s first pick (11th overall) in the 1977 amateur draft, Anderson played 12 seasons in the National Hockey League with the Maple Leafs (1977-85), Quebec Nordiques (1985-86), and Hartford Whalers (1986-89). The Toronto native registered five 30-goal campaigns in the NHL, including four straight from 1981-85. Anderson’s most productive offensive season came in 1982-83, when he paced Toronto with 80 points (31G, 49A) in 80 games.

Anderson ranks 14th in Maple Leafs history with 189 goals and 20th with 393 points. He amassed 282 goals and 631 points in 814 NHL regular-season games and added 9 goals and 27 points in 37 career Stanley Cup Playoff contests.

Anderson played three years in the International Hockey League with the Fort Wayne Komets (1990-91) and San Diego Gulls (1992-94). As a player/assistant coach with the Gulls, he helped propel the club to an IHL-record 62 wins and a berth in the 1993 Turner Cup Finals. Two years earlier, he tallied 40 goals and 83 points in 63 games to help the Komets reach the 1991 Turner Cup Finals.

While playing with the American Hockey League’s New Haven Nighthawks in 1991-92, Anderson became the oldest player to win the league’s Most Valuable Player award at age 35. He notched 41 goals and 95 points in 68 games, while capturing the AHL’s Sportsmanship Award and earning a spot on the AHL First All-Star Team.